Joseph p



l (no Model.)

l J. P. HMGH. v PIPE WRENCH. v

N0. 272,955. Patented Feb. 27, 1883. i

N. PEYERS. Phmuxmm w-hinltm nc.

y UNITED' STATES PATENT trice.

JOSEPH P. HAIGH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN G.

HOLMES, OF SAME PLACE.

PIPE-WRENCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No: 272,955, dated February 27, 1883.

Application filed August 7, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, JOSEPH P. HArGrr, of Pittsburg, county ot'Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a new and useful Improvement in Pipe-Wrenches; and l do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, concise, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which-like letters indicating like parts- 4Figures 1 and 2 show side elevations of my improved pipe-wrench applied to pipes of dit'- ferent sizes. Figs. 3 and 4 are edge views of parts of the wrench. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the pin employed in fastening one end of the spring. Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of the clock-sprin g employed for closing the gripping-clutch; and Fig.7 is an enlarged view of apiece of the shank of thepivoted clutch, illustrative of the means employed for securing the spring.

My present invention relates to certain improvements in that class ot' pipe-wrenches for which vLetters Patent ot' the United States were granted to me, as follows: No..235,083, December 7, 1880, and No. 248,588, October 25,1881; and it consists of a wrench having a lever provided with a gripping-surface on its end, a mortise through its body back of the gripping-surface, with lugs on 0r holes in the walls of the mortise forpivoting the grippingclutch and attaching one end of a clock-spring, the clutch being provided at one end with the usualangular grippingsurface,and at the other end with a flattened shank adapted to iit and move on its pivot within the mortise of the lever, and having in the convex edge of the shank a recess in which the other end of the clockspring is secured, and by which it is covered and protected both when in use and out of use.

By reference to the drawings, the details `in form and construction of my improved wrench will be more readily understood, in which Arepresents a lever made by preference of steel casting, having a curved gripping-face, a, formed on its end, of the usual form. Back of this gripping-face is a mortise, a', Fig. 3, made edgewise through the body of the lever. The movable clutch() has an angular or curved grippingsurface,c, of the usual or any desired form, and extending in its central plane is a iiattened shank, c", of uniform thickness, but of curved form and increased width toward its extremity. At the inner angle of this extremity the clutch is pivoted by bolt d to the lever A, the bolt being passed through ears or lugs d', cast on the back edges of the walls of the mortise under the base ot' gripping-surface a, and riveted or otherwise fastened to hold itin place. The length of mortise a is sufficient to allow the desired range of motion of clutch G, which, owing to its curved form, will make its full extent of movement in opening and closing with but little variation in the space it will occupy in the mortise. ln the rounded or back edge of the shank c' is made a recess, groove, or depression, c2, (see Fig. 4,) which gradually decreases in depth from the extremity of the shank forward to or nearly to the base of the gripping-surface c. In the end or deepest part ot' this groove is secured, by a bolt or pin, I, one end, e, of a clockspring, E. This is done by making a slot or groove, z', lengthwise in the bolt, adapted to receive the bent end e of the spring,so that in putting the parts together the coiled part of the spring may be placed in the groove c2. with its end e in line with the pin-holes c3, and then the pin be passed through the end e, occupying the groove i. The other end of this spring is carried through or into the mortise a' and secured between the lugs b by a bolt or pin, b. The relative positions of these parts are such that the spring lies within the groove c2 and the mortise a both when the wrench is closed or nearly closed, as in Fig. 1, and when opened Wide, as in Fig. 2, as well as at intermediate points. The spring is wound up on the pin I or placed under tension,so as to close the pivoted clutch C by its spring action, as follows A slit or groove, i', is made across eachend face ot' the pin, one being designed to receive a steady-pin, n, and the other a screwdriver for turning the pin I. Any other suitable or convenient means may be employed for turning or winding, however. When the spring has been wound up so as to exert a positive pulling force on the clutch, when shut as well as when open, the pin is secured so as to hold the spring under such tension by the steady- IOO pin et, which is placed in the groove 17,-with 1. The pivoted gripping-clutch C, having its extended ends resting in notches i2, made on either side of the hoie c3.` This end of the pin is then riveted or drawn over the steady-pin, as at n', to hold it securely and prevent the pin I from working out of its hole in one direction, and a riveted head made on the other end will prevent it from working out in the opposite direction. rlhis spring exerts a positive and direct pulling force upon a point of the shank outside of its pivotal center, such that the clutch C will close promptly upon or toward the jaw c when not prevented by an intervening object, and whenever the wrench is applied to use the clutch will be gripped by the spring upon the object to be turned, whether small or large. The action of the spring upont-he clutch C is much more effective in securing the desired movement than that of mere pressuresprings arranged as in the prior patents above referred to, and in this respect it is an important improvement in this class of wrenches. It is also better protected, and therefore less liable to become injured.

lf desired, the spring may be changed end for end, so that it shall coil or wind about the bolt bf, and its operation be substantially as before.

I claim herein as my inventiongripping-surface c, flattened shank c', with a groove or depression, c2, in the back edge of the shank, in combination with inortised lever A and clock-spring E, secured within the recess '02 and the mortise of the lever, substantially as set forth, whereby the clutch C is closed by a direct pulling force.

2. The gripping-clutch C, having a covered shank, c', widened toward its extremity, in combination with mortised lever A, a pivotconnection between the inner corner of the end ot' the shank and the back edge ofthe mortisewalls, and a clock-spring, E, secured to the outer corner of the end ot' the shank and t0 the front end of theinortise-Walls, substantially as set forth. Y

3. In combination with lever A, pivoted clutch U, and spring E, having bent inner end e, a fastening-pin, I, having longitudinal slot 't' and cross end groove, t, and steady-pin n, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH P. HAIGH.

Witnesses:

R. H. WHITLLESEY, C. L. PARKER. 

